Coffee grower seeks compensation after DPI program

Thu 7 Jul 2005, 1:49 PM AEST

A north Queensland coffee grower is advising farmers to think twice before allowing any government staff onto their properties.

The Jaques family, and two other Atherton Tableland coffee producers, are seeking compensation from the Queensland Government for alleged damage caused by its 1996 papaya fruit fly eradication campaign.

Nat Jaques says his family lost its entire 50-acre coffee plantation and so far has received no compensation

"The Department of Primary Industries gave us no choice whether we were going to be part of their program or not," Mr Jaques said.

"What we weren't told was that if any damage was done to our property, in the national interests that we would not be compensated for our losses and this is the major point where we have a problem.

"This is you know the big guy kicking the little guy in the ass."

The Queensland Primary Industries Department says it is inappropriate to comment, as the matter is the subject of court action.